Flooring


The Ultimate Flooring Guide for Interior Designers and Decorators

Introduction

Flooring serves as the foundation of any design project, shaping both the aesthetics and functionality of a space. Whether designing a high-end residential area or an upscale commercial property, the choice of flooring can elevate a project from ordinary to extraordinary. Interior designers and decorators, who are experts in bringing a client's vision to life, need versatile, high-quality, and sustainable flooring options that complement their creative vision while ensuring durability and practicality.

What Is Flooring?

Flooring encompasses a broad range of materials and surfaces used to cover the ground in homes, offices, and commercial spaces. It provides both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits like comfort, durability, and ease of maintenance. From the warm, rich tones of hardwood to the sleek, modern look of polished concrete, the right flooring can set the tone for an entire room, offering texture, color, and visual interest.

Features and Benefits of Flooring for Interior Designers and Decorators

  • Aesthetic Versatility
    Flooring materials come in an extensive range of textures, colors, and finishes, allowing designers to tailor the look of a space to any design style, from traditional to contemporary. Wood flooring provides timeless warmth, while resilient vinyl can mimic the appearance of natural stone or ceramic at a fraction of the cost. This versatility empowers designers to experiment with different styles and applications, making it easier to match a client’s vision.
  • Quality and Craftsmanship
    High-quality materials, such as premium hardwoods, polished concrete, and engineered wood, offer both beauty and long-lasting performance. Clients expect their floors to withstand the test of time, and superior craftsmanship ensures that these surfaces remain durable, even under heavy foot traffic. Whether it’s a luxurious residential living room or a busy commercial lobby, quality flooring adds value to any project.
  • Trend Awareness
    Designers and decorators stay ahead of the curve by incorporating trending materials like distressed wood, sustainable bamboo, and seamless polymer floors. Flooring trends such as bold geometric patterns or large-format tiles allow professionals to push the boundaries of their designs while creating spaces that feel fresh and on-trend.
  • Customization Options
    Flooring materials, especially hardwood, vinyl, and laminate, offer extensive customization options. Designers can select from different plank widths, patterns (like herringbone or parquet), and finishes (from matte to high gloss) to meet specific design goals. Customization adds a personalized touch, making each project unique and tailored to the client’s needs.
  • Sustainability
    With growing demand for eco-conscious designs, sustainable flooring options are more important than ever. Bamboo and cork, both renewable materials, offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wood flooring. Reclaimed wood and linoleum also provide environmentally responsible solutions without sacrificing style. Designers focused on green building practices can confidently choose sustainable flooring that aligns with the goals of modern, eco-conscious clients.

Why Flooring Stands Out in Design Projects

Flooring sets itself apart in interior design through its ability to blend aesthetics with innovation. Specialty floors such as resilient vinyl, which offers moisture resistance and easy maintenance, and polished concrete, known for its industrial chic look, provide designers with a wide array of choices. With advanced performance features like scratch resistance, waterproof technology, and compatibility with radiant heating, modern flooring materials offer durability alongside style. Flooring plays a key role in creating beautiful and functional spaces, making it an essential element in every project.

Best Rooms for Specialty Floors

Specialty floors, such as vinyl plank or rubber tiles, excel in spaces that see heavy use, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and gyms. In kitchens and bathrooms, moisture resistance is essential, while gyms benefit from the shock-absorption properties of rubber flooring. For luxurious living areas or bedrooms, wood flooring or plush carpeting adds warmth and comfort, making these spaces more inviting.

Product Categories: Exploring the Full Range of Flooring

  • Area Rugs
    These versatile pieces not only add visual interest but also define spaces within a room, making them perfect for open-plan layouts. Area rugs can introduce bold patterns or textures, enhancing the room’s overall design while adding warmth and comfort.
  • Carpeting
    Carpeting offers a soft, cozy texture ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, and commercial spaces where comfort is a priority. Available in a variety of styles, from loop pile to Berber, carpets provide both luxury and practicality, absorbing sound and adding insulation.
  • Hard Surface Flooring
    Hard surface options, including ceramic tile, natural stone, and concrete, are popular for high-traffic areas due to their durability and ease of maintenance. These materials offer a sleek, polished look that’s perfect for modern, minimalist designs.
  • Laminate Flooring
    Laminate mimics the appearance of natural wood or stone but comes with greater durability and affordability. It’s ideal for clients looking for style on a budget and works well in high-traffic areas such as entryways and kitchens.
  • Mats and Runners
    Mats and runners are practical accessories for protecting high-traffic areas while adding style. Available in various patterns and materials, they provide both functionality and a decorative touch, making them suitable for hallways, kitchens, or entrances.
  • Polished Concrete Flooring
    With its sleek, industrial appearance, polished concrete is an ideal option for contemporary spaces. It offers durability and a unique aesthetic that works well in both commercial and residential projects. Its reflective surface can also enhance natural light in a room.
  • Resilient and Vinyl Flooring
    Resilient flooring, including luxury vinyl tiles and sheets, offers flexibility and durability. It’s perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements where moisture resistance is critical. Vinyl’s ability to mimic high-end materials, such as stone or wood, allows designers to achieve a luxurious look without the high cost.
  • Specialty Floors
    Specialty flooring options, such as rubber or cork, offer unique features like slip-resistance, soundproofing, or moisture resistance. These floors are excellent for commercial spaces, gyms, or playrooms where specific performance attributes are necessary.
  • Wood Flooring
    Wood flooring, both solid and engineered, remains a favorite for its timeless beauty and natural warmth. Each piece of wood tells a story, bringing character and richness to a space. Engineered wood offers greater moisture resistance and can be installed in areas where solid wood may not be suitable, such as basements.

Bringing Flooring to Life in Design Projects

Imagine stepping into a sleek, modern living room featuring polished concrete floors that reflect natural light, or a rustic kitchen with reclaimed wood floors that bring warmth and texture to the space. Flooring not only sets the mood but enhances the functionality of the room, making it a vital element in any design project. With such a vast array of options, from the soft luxury of wool carpeting to the durability of vinyl plank flooring, designers have endless possibilities to bring their creative visions to life.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Designs with Versatile and Stylish Flooring

Interior designers and decorators are constantly seeking new ways to bring beauty and practicality to their projects. Flooring offers the perfect blend of style, durability, and innovation. With a range of products that cater to various needs—whether it’s creating a cozy residential retreat or a high-traffic commercial space—flooring is an essential design element that can elevate any project. Explore the full spectrum of flooring solutions and discover how they can enhance your next masterpiece.

Transform Your Spaces with Versatile and Trend-Forward Flooring Solutions


Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information presented, we make no warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the content. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. We recommend consulting with professionals for specific advice tailored to your project’s needs, particularly regarding building codes, regulations, and product specifications.

Under no circumstances shall we be liable for any loss or damage, including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided in this article.

Laminate Flooring

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Laminate Flooring

Laminate is a floor covering that appears similar to hardwood but is made with a plywood or medium density fiberboard core with a plastic laminate top layer. Laminate may be more durable than hardwood, but cannot be refinished like hardwood.

See our collection laminate flooring brands like Shaw Laminate Flooring, Mannington Charter Collection™, Armstrong Laminate Flooring, Quick•Step Laminate Flooring, Tarkett Laminate Flooring, and more... Click below to see our whole selection of laminate flooring brands!

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Wood Flooring

Wood Flooring - 373

Wood Flooring

Many different species of wood are fabricated into wood flooring in two primary forms: plank and parquet. Hardwoods are typically much more durable than softwoods. Wood is a common choice as a flooring material and can come in various styles, colors, cuts

See our collection wood flooring brands like Shaw Hardwoods Flooring, Mannington Hardwood Flooring, Bruce® Hardwood Flooring, Anderson-Tuftex Hardwood, Hartco® Wood Flooring, and more... Click below to see our whole selection of wood flooring brands!

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Carpeting

Carpeting - 76

Carpeting

Whether you choose a room-size loose-laid or wall to wall permanently installed over a cushion, this soft floor covering, offers many practical advantages.

See our collection carpeting brands like Mohawk Carpet, Shaw Carpet, Anderson-Tuftex Carpet, Aladdin Commercial Hard Surface, Milliken Commercial Carpet, and more... Click below to see our whole selection of carpeting brands!

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Resilient/Vinyl Flooring

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Resilient/Vinyl Flooring

Discover how resilient and vinyl flooring blends beauty and functionality. Perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces, it offers a wide range of design options.

See our collection resilient/vinyl flooring brands like ArmstrongFlooring™ Sheet Vinyl, Mannington Resilient Vinyl Flooring, Tarkett Resilient Flooring, Johnsonite® Commerical Flooring, Mannington Adura® Flooring, and more... Click below to see our whole selection of resilient/vinyl flooring brands!

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Area Rugs

Area Rugs - 204

Area Rugs

For spreading personality around a room, the area rug has few rivals. What could be more elegant than an heirloom quality Oriental area rug atop a gleaming hardwood floor, or more charming than a handcrafted braided area rug on timeworn pine planks.

See our collection area rugs brands like Kathy Ireland™ Rugs, Nourison Area Rugs, Masland Rugs, Mohawk Area Rugs, Couristan Rugs, and more... Click below to see our whole selection of area rugs brands!

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Specialty Floors

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Specialty Floors

Whether it’s flooring for an exercise facility, a new athletic surfaces for a school, a slip resistant, anti-fatigue floor for a manufacturing facility, or an industrial seamless fluid applied floor, there is a speciality floor for every environment.

See our collection specialty floors brands like Johnsonite® Commerical Flooring, Forbo Flooring, Flexco® Resilient Floors, Altro Floors, Mondo® Commercial Flooring, and more... Click below to see our whole selection of specialty floors brands!

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Hard Surface Flooring

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Hard Surface Flooring

Hard flooring (not to be confused with "hardwood") is a family of flooring materials that includes concrete or cement, ceramic tile, glass tiles, and natural stone products.

See our collection hard surface flooring brands like Shaw Tile Flooring, and more... Click below to see our whole selection of hard surface flooring brands!

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Mats/Runners

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Mats/Runners

Discover the perfect mats and runners to enhance any room. From stylish designs to practical solutions, find quality options for every need.

See our collection mats/runners brands like Akro Floor Mats, Humane® Manufacturing Rubber Flooring, van Gelder Mats, Musson Rubber Mats , Uline, and more... Click below to see our whole selection of mats/runners brands!

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Overview of Flooring Options - This Old House
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General contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O'Connor discuss the wide world of flooring products.




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Johnsonite

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Our mission is to integrate design and life-safety into flooring and stairwell solutions to create more productive, safer spaces that are aesthetically pleasing and add to our customers economic success.



Emser Tile LLC

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Emser Tile and Natural Stone



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Pergo Inc

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PERGO is the worlds most recognized and trusted flooring brands. We invented the category over 30 years ago and continue to innovate with around 500 patents and pending patent applications throughout the world.



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Wear-Dated Carpet Fiber

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Wear-Dated Carpet Fiber - You'll Wear Out Before Wear-Dated Does.



PG Hardwood Flooring Inc.

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Pental Granite & Marble

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Regal Hardwoods Inc

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All Regal Hardwood floors are crafted from top quality, sustainable forested woods. The Baltic birch engineered hardwood core is one of the most stable in the industry.



Ecore International

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